Paleobiogeographic evolution and distribution of Carcharodontosauridae (Dinosauria, Theropoda) during the middle Cretaceous of North Africa

Carlos Roberto Dos Anjos Candeiro,Paulo Victor Luiz Gomes Da Costa Pereira Pereira,Luciano Vidal,Sthepen Louis Brusatte

doi:10.11606/1807-0205/2018.58.29

Carlos Roberto Dos Anjos Candeiro, Paulo Victor Luiz Gomes Da Costa Pereira Pereira + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.11606/1807-0205/2018.58.29

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Abstract

Over the last few decades, the systematics and evolution of carcharodontosaurids, a group of large predatory dinosaurs, from North Africa have been better understood mainly due the discovery of new species. We review this record here and discuss its importance for understanding the evolution and ecology of these dinosaurs. North Africa has one of the best records of carcharodontosaurid species. These species show dietary specializations and paleogeographic distributions similar to other top predatory theropods such as Abelisauridae and Spinosauridae. However, carcharodontosaurids have a wider distribution than other large theropods. The middle Cretaceous of North Africa was characterized by the niche overlap between large predators. This evidence increases our understanding of the evolution of Carcharodontosauridae in a highly competitive region, a conjuncture rarely reported for large top predators.

Highlights

Several species of predatory dinosaurs are grouped in the family Carcharodontosauridae, a subgroup of basal tetanuran allosauroid theropods closely related to the well-known Allosaurus (Brusatte & Sereno, 2008; Benson et al, 2010; Carrano et al, 2012)
Brusatte & Sereno (2007) named this taxon as a new species of Carcharodontosaurus. They suggested that the presence of different species of this colossal theropod genus at generally the same time in Niger and Morocco may have been related to faunal differentiation, caused by shallow continental seas acting as barriers and isolating different parts of North Africa from each other
For many decades there were a mysterious group, represented by only a handful of fossils, but recent discoveries have revolutionized our understanding of their anatomy, systematics, phylogeny, biogeography, and evolution

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Several species of predatory dinosaurs are grouped in the family Carcharodontosauridae, a subgroup of basal tetanuran allosauroid theropods closely related to the well-known Allosaurus (Brusatte & Sereno, 2008; Benson et al, 2010; Carrano et al, 2012). As a result, Brusatte & Sereno (2007) named this taxon as a new species of Carcharodontosaurus They suggested that the presence of different species of this colossal theropod genus at generally the same time in Niger and Morocco may have been related to faunal differentiation, caused by shallow continental seas acting as barriers and isolating different parts of North Africa from each other. The phylogenetic relationships of this taxon are difficult to pin down because of the highly fragmentary material, but the cladistic analysis of Cau et al (2012) found Sauroniops to group with Eocarcharia in a clade of basal carcharodontosaurids

DISCUSSION

CONCLUDING REMARKS